Paradise Lost

Those happie places thou hast deignd a while 
To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us 
Two onely, who yet by sov'ran gift possess 
This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre 
To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears 
To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 
Be over, and the Sun more coole decline. 
  Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde. 
ADAM, I therefore came, nor art thou such 
Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 
As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n 
To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre 
Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise 
I have at will.  So to the Silvan Lodge 
They came, that like POMONA'S Arbour smil'd 
With flourets deck't and fragrant smells; but EVE 
Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair 
Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd 
Of three that in Mount IDA naked strove, 
Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no vaile 
Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme 
Alterd her cheek.  On whom the Angel HAILE 
Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd 
Long after to blest MARIE, second EVE. 
  Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb 
Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons 
Then with these various fruits the Trees of God 
Have heap'd this Table.  Rais'd of grassie terf 
Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round, 
And on her ample Square from side to side 
All AUTUMN pil'd, though SPRING and AUTUMN here 
Danc'd hand in hand.  A while discourse they hold; 
No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began 
Our Authour.  Heav'nly stranger, please to taste 
These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom 
All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends, 
To us for food and for delight hath caus'd 
The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps 
To spiritual Natures; only this I know, 
That one Celestial Father gives to all. 
  To whom the Angel.  Therefore what he gives 
(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part 
Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found 
No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure 
Intelligential substances require 
As doth your Rational; and both contain 
Within them every lower facultie 
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, 
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 
And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 
For know, whatever was created, needs 
To be sustaind and fed; of Elements 
The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, 
Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires 
Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon; 
Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd 
Vapours not yet into her substance turnd. 
Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale 
From her moist Continent to higher Orbes. 
The Sun that light imparts to all, receives 
From all his alimental recompence 
In humid exhalations, and at Even 
Sups with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees 
Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines 
Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn 
We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground 
Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here 
Varied his bounty so with new delights, 
As may compare with Heaven; and to taste 
Think not I shall be nice.  So down they sat, 
And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly 
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 
Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch 
Of real hunger, and concoctive heate 
To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires 
Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire 
Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist 
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn 
Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold 
As from the Mine.  Mean while at Table EVE 
Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups 
With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence 
Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, 
Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin 
Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts 
Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousie 
Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell. 
  Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd, 
Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose 
In ADAM, not to let th' occasion pass 
Given him by this great Conference to know 
Of things above his World, and of thir being 
Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he saw 
Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms 
Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far 
Exceeded human, and his wary speech 
Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd. 
  Inhabitant with God, now know I well 
Thy favour, in this honour done to man, 
Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't